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Hinduja case: New inquiry clears Mandelson

H S Rao in London

The inquiry into the Hinduja passport affair has cleared British Premier Tony Blair's former ally Peter Mandelson of any wrong-doing. However, it does not say whether Mandelson called another minister to press for a passport to the non-resident Indian businessmen.

The second report by Anthony Hammond, who was asked to reopen his inquiry, said the former Northern Ireland minister was not guilty of misconduct, according to British media reports.

Sir Anthony found no evidence that Mandelson made the controversial calls, but at the same time he did not disprove the assertion of former home office minister Mike O'Brien that Mandelson had telephoned him.

Although Sir Anthony's original report last year had cleared Mandelson of any wrongdoing, it suggested that O'Brien's strong recollection of the call was likely to be true.

The original report had also cleared the Hindujas of any wrong-doing in securing the passport.

Mandelson had denied any impropriety but was forced to resign from the Blair cabinet in January 2001.

He demanded a fresh inquiry claiming there were new documents showing he had not, after all, made the calls.

PTI

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